Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Imagine the scene! In a record company boardroom, sometime in February, a small gathering of executives is planning releases. How about recording a Christmas album? It's a winner! Let's get a pile of session singers, get our production guys working on some bland MOR arrangements and while they're doing that, let's think which songs to do. Let's see guys. What does everyone else put on Christmas albums? You've got to have "Hark The Herald", "Silent Night", "Come All Ye Faithful" haven't you? And what about one of those sentimental tunes too? "White Christmas" suggests an aide. No, no. I got it! "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"! Nods of agreement and a slap on the back for the suit who thought of it. What about having some more modern songs? Well, hardly anybody writes Christmas songs these days do they because every year all the CCM artists just trot out the same old hymns. Hmmm, tricky, let's think! That British guy Eaton's written a couple like the one Amy did - what was that called? "Breath Of Heaven"? Ok, that's in! How about "Saviour's Day"? Nah! Only fans of that English guy Cliff somebody has heard of that. What about that one Point Of Grace did last year that he wrote? Everyone's heard that, what was it? "When Love Came Down", that's it. Are we done? Wait! You have to have "Mary, Did You Know"! There are murmurs of agreement. OK. So what shall we call it? It's a Christmas album so why not 'Noel'? Awesome! Let's make it sound a bit fancy and subtitle it '11 Elegant Christmas Classics', that'll attract interest. And so 'Noel' was conceived. It's rumoured that there are some very famous names from the CCM scene singing on this but they did it anonymously. One listen and you'll know why!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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